Founded by Sedgrid Lewis, Sanga Capital invests in vacant and underutilized historic commercial buildings in rural Georgia mill town communities — using CDFIs, Opportunity Zones, and state grants to transform forgotten Main Streets into thriving economic anchors.
"Every abandoned mill town building is a story of community strength waiting to be retold."
Sanga Capital was founded on a simple but powerful belief: the historic brick buildings at the heart of America's old mill towns are not liabilities — they are assets waiting for the right vision, the right capital, and the right community partners to unlock their potential.
We specialize in the revitalization of commercial corridors in minority communities that were bypassed by conventional investment — towns where the textile mills closed, the jobs left, and the downtown blocks went dark. We bring together Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) lending, federal Opportunity Zone equity, Georgia Rural Zone tax credits, and Downtown Development Authority partnerships to make the economics of redevelopment work where traditional financing won't go.
Our goal is not just to fill vacant storefronts. It is to create the conditions for minority-owned small businesses to launch and grow, for residents to access quality food and services in their own neighborhoods, and for communities to reclaim the economic identity that was taken from them.
We target vacant or underutilized brick commercial buildings in designated Rural Zones and Opportunity Zones — properties with strong bones and community significance that have been overlooked by conventional investors due to perceived risk or scale.
Acquisition StrategyWe layer CDFI loans, Opportunity Zone equity, state Rural Zone tax credits, DDA facade grants, and USDA Rural Development financing to build capital stacks that make redevelopment viable where conventional lending stops. Every deal is engineered for community impact.
Capital StrategyWe actively recruit minority-owned food, retail, and service businesses as tenants. We provide below-market NNN leases, landlord-funded build-outs, and connection to small business support resources — lowering the barrier to entry for entrepreneurs who have historically been locked out of commercial real estate.
Tenant StrategyEvery Sanga Capital project is built in deep partnership with Downtown Development Authorities, city councils, economic development offices, and local chambers of commerce. We do not redevelop communities — we redevelop alongside them, with their active participation and endorsement.
Government RelationsOur NNN lease structure creates stable, long-term income streams while keeping operating risk with tenants who are invested in their own success. As properties stabilize and appreciate, we reinvest capital into additional community assets — creating a self-reinforcing cycle of investment and impact.
Wealth BuildingThree historic 1920s brick commercial buildings totaling 6,510 SF on a designated Rural Zone main arterial. Full gut rehabilitation with three committed food and beverage tenants: Roots & Culture Jamaican BBQ, Swanson Family Farms specialty meat shop, and Juice Well. Landlord-funded commercial kitchen shell, ADA restrooms, and façade restoration.
Adjacent ~0.9 acre cleared parcel behind the Barnesville Street block. Phase 2 development targeting 4–8 residential units to address the critical shortage of walkable downtown housing in Thomaston. Opportunity Zone equity structure in development. Utilities extended during Phase 1 construction.
Sanga Capital is actively seeking the next acquisition in a Georgia mill town community. Target profile: 3,000–10,000 SF vacant or underutilized historic commercial building on a main street corridor in a Rural Zone or Opportunity Zone designated municipality with active DDA support.
We partner with property owners, municipal development authorities, and community leaders to identify and structure deals that work for everyone. If you have a historic commercial property in a minority community that needs a committed redevelopment partner, we want to hear from you.
Start a Conversation →Community Development Financial Institutions provide flexible, mission-driven capital for projects in underserved communities where traditional banks won't lend. We work with Capital Impact Partners, ACE (Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs), and Georgia Cities Foundation to access below-market financing that makes our deals viable.
Federal Qualified Opportunity Zones allow investors to defer and reduce capital gains taxes by investing in designated low-income census tracts. Sanga Capital structures QOF vehicles that attract patient, impact-oriented equity investors while keeping operating control with our team and community partners.
Georgia's Rural Zone program designates downtown corridors in rural communities and provides state income tax credits for qualifying capital investment and job creation. These credits — combined with DDA facade grants — dramatically reduce the net cost of rehabilitation in our target markets.
Downtown Development Authorities administer facade improvement grants, revolving loan funds, and technical assistance programs that layer on top of our capital stack. Our deep relationships with local DDAs — including co-presenting at bank meetings — reduce lender risk and accelerate approvals.
Georgia and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits provide 20–25% of qualified rehabilitation expenditures for eligible buildings. Our circa-1920 commercial properties in historic downtown districts are prime candidates — adding significant value to our capital stack.
USDA Rural Development's Community Facilities program provides below-market loans for commercial facility rehabilitation in rural communities. With terms up to 40 years and flexible credit requirements, USDA financing is a cornerstone tool for projects in our target markets across rural Georgia and the Southeast.
At Sanga Capital, financial return and community impact are not in tension — they are the same goal. A thriving block of minority-owned businesses creates jobs, tax revenue, foot traffic, and community pride that makes every property more valuable over time.
We measure success not just in cap rates and DSCR ratios, but in the number of entrepreneurs who opened their first business, the neighborhoods that got their first full-service restaurant, and the communities that saw their Main Street come back to life.
Sanga Capital was founded by Sedgrid Lewis, a real estate investor and community development advocate whose work is rooted in a simple belief: small towns deserve thoughtful development and access to capital. Through strategic acquisitions and patient redevelopment, Sedgrid transforms underutilized commercial properties into thriving local businesses that strengthen communities and support small entrepreneurs.
His work is primarily concentrated in Thomaston and Barnesville, Georgia, where he has invested in multiple commercial properties along key downtown corridors. Sedgrid's redevelopment approach centers on bringing essential and culturally vibrant businesses back to Main Street — restaurants, specialty food concepts, and locally owned retail that increase foot traffic and economic activity for the whole community.
His current flagship project transforms storefronts along Barnesville Street in downtown Thomaston into a multi-tenant destination featuring a Jamaican restaurant, a fresh juice bar, and a local meat market — a neighborhood hub that supports local agriculture, food entrepreneurs, and community gathering. Sedgrid works with local business owners, economic development leaders, and mission-driven lenders to bring new life to overlooked properties while preserving the character of historic communities.
Sanga Capital actively recruits minority-owned food, retail, and service businesses for our properties. We offer competitive NNN leases, landlord-funded build-outs, and connection to small business resources — designed to lower the barrier to entry for first-time commercial tenants.
Tell us about your business concept. We review every inquiry and respond within 48 hours.
Whether you are a property owner with a building that needs a vision, a municipal development authority looking for a committed redevelopment partner, a CDFI or impact investor seeking deal flow in rural Georgia, or an entrepreneur looking for space to launch your business — we want to hear from you.